Brightmark RNG Holdings, a joint venture partnership between Chevron U.S.A. (subsidiary of Chevron Corporation) and Brightmark Fund Holdings (subsidiary of Brightmark), announced the delivery of the first renewable natural gas from its Larson Project in Okeechobee County, Florida. The Larson Project is comprised of four lagoon anaerobic digesters located at Larson Family Farms. This marks the joint venture’s inaugural biomethane project in the state and builds on the joint venture’s extensive network of projects across the U.S. to produce dairy biomethane for lower carbon intensity transportation fuel.
The Larson Project captures methane from cow manure through the process of anaerobic digestion and converts it to renewable natural gas. The produced renewable gas is used as transportation fuel, and the remaining solids are transformed into organic fertilizer. In addition, recaptured water returns directly to the farm or site where the digester is located for reuse. The project delivers several environmental benefits, such as odor mitigation and air quality, soil stabilization, and nutrient control, improves the economics of dairy farming, and reduces the carbon intensity of agricultural practices.
“This ‘first gas’ milestone with Larson Family Farms is a testament to the power that a circular solution like anaerobic digestion has to dramatically reduce methane emissions and promote economic development in local communities,” remarked Bob Powell, CEO and founder of Brightmark. “Our collaboration with Chevron and Larson demonstrates the continued growth of the renewable natural gas market propelled by the agricultural and food waste industry.”
“We are excited to achieve this milestone in our first joint renewable natural gas project in Florida with Brightmark and a notable farming family,” said Nuray Elci, general manager of renewables in Chevron’s Americas Products business. “These projects support production of affordable and reliable energy, and help accelerate lower carbon solutions.”
Brightmark aims to reduce GHG emissions and achieve significant improvements in water quality by adopting economically viable technologies and practices throughout the industry. Brightmark recently reached a substantial company milestone, reducing more than 500,000 tons of CO2eq through its biomethane portfolio of nearly 30 projects across 40 farms nationwide. With this project, Brightmark is able to reduce over 57,000 tons of CO2eq from being released into the atmosphere every year. That is equivalent to planting over 75,000 acres of forest every year.
Source: Brightmark
